This story is part of the series Thriving on the Road

Runners multitask sightseeing, stress relief

Nancy Trejos, USA TODAY
2:10 p.m. EST November 14, 2012

Runners multitask sightseeing, stress relief: Sightseeing on the run — or sightrunning — has become so popular that hotels, and even some airlines, are targeting runners with amenities and programs. In addition to offering a good way of seeing the community you're visiting, it is a healthy way to ease stress and stay fit.(Photo: Win McNamee, Getty Images)

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Sightrunning is so popular that hotels and airlines target runners with amenities and programs

Several tour companies offer sightrunning events in cities across the USA, from Memphis to L.A.

Certain websites offer pre-mapped routes, or tools for runners to build their own on the road

"Running is such a great way to see the area," says the sales trainer from Scottsdale, Ariz. "I love clearing my head by running on a beautiful path."

Sightseeing on the run — or sightrunning — has become so popular that hotels, and even some airlines, are targeting runners with amenities and programs. In addition to offering a good way of seeing the community you're visiting, it is a healthy way to ease stress and stay fit.

Westin has the RunWestin program, with running concierges who will take guests on free guided 3- or 5-mile "discovery runs."

Hotel employees also lead runs at some Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. At the Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver, for instance, guests can participate in morning runs with the general manager.

Maryam Wehe, senior vice president at Applied Predictive Technologies, which does hotel consulting, says it's another way that hotels are trying to connect with guests on a more personal level.

"As hotels have focused on providing increased efficiency of check-ins, they have reduced what was often the only opportunity to personally interact with guests — the check-in process," she says. "Runs and activities led by the hotel staff provide an avenue for hotels to build relationships with guests in a non-intrusive and extremely personal way."

Hotels are also offering guests running apparel when they've left theirs at home.

For $5, Westin guests can borrow running shoes with disposable soles and other running apparel through a gear-lending partnership with New Balance. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has the Fairmont Fit program, which allows guests to borrow running apparel and footwear.

Ink48, a Kimpton property in New York, offers a "Forgot It, We've Got It- Runner's Edition" amenity kit with a map of the Hudson River running path, a pre-loaded iPod shuffle with headphones, a sports watch, running belt with water bottles and an energy bar and sports drink.

For those who love running and don't want to stray too far in unfamiliar cities, hotels are outfitting their gyms with better cardio machines or providing equipment within the guest room.

Even some airlines are appealing to runners. Air France/KLM lets passengers use their Flying Blue Miles to sign up for marathons throughout the world. There is also the Flying Blue Running Club that runners can join and use to communicate with each other. So far, the club has about 25,000 members and its own Facebook page and Twitter account.

How to find routes yourself

For those travelers who end up at a hotel that has only a treadmill to offer, there are plenty of ways to find good running paths on their own.

A number of guided running tours have popped up at several destinations across the country. Rockin' Running Tours take travelers on 3- to 6-mile runs through the historic streets of Memphis, past such famous sites as Sun Studio. Off 'N Running Tours in Los Angeles has 4-mile runs past places that celebrities are known to frequent.

Runners can also guide themselves.

Carol Frazey, a personal trainer in Bellingham, Wash., who writes a health newsletter, says runners should arrive at their destination with some routes planned out, which they can find on websites such as Mapmyrun.com.

And if they don't want to run alone, they can find running groups or partners though the Road Runners.

"This can assure your safety in an unknown area and allow you to see parts of the city you might not have thought about seeing," he says.

Runners can also hire a local running coach though websites such as Coachup.com or NewtonRunning.com, he says. The coaches can analyze their gait and form and teach them new techniques.

Jason Rand, a marathoner and traveler in San Francisco, prefers to come up with his own running routes. He has run while on vacation in Napa Valley, San Diego, Chicago, Paris, Prague and Tel Aviv.

"One of my greatest joys is being able to run in new places," he says. "It is an incredible way to see any city, and it sure beats working out at a gym while in a new place. And it's free, while a gym can cost money."

If technology is not the best option, he scopes out his destination for a day. If the city matches the terrain he's used to running, he'll run the same amount of time he does at home knowing what his pace typically is.

"That's the simplest way to get a run in that'll be similar in length while at home," he says.

Whichever strategy you use, Four Seasons Spa and Fitness Director Mary Kate Piotrowski recommends making safety a priority. Writing down the hotel's address and phone number on a piece of paper and keeping it in your pocket could help if you get lost or find yourself in an uncomfortable situation.

If you can't find a safe place to run outside but have an aversion to working out in a gym, Andy McNeill, CEO of American Meetings and a frequent traveler, suggests going another route: Run in your hotel stairwell.

"It is now part of my regular exercise routine wherever I go," he says. "In addition, to being a fantastic cardio workout, it is safe and provides twice the workout in half the time."